Emp-resistant telecommunications system and method with signal regenerating subsystem

ABSTRACT

An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) resistant telecommunications (telecom) system includes core components mounted within and shielded by a Faraday cage. The components include a data source or storage device. An ethernet switch selectively connects the data source or storage device to a primary satellite router and a post-EMP satellite router. Telecom signals are output from and input to the core components via low noise blocks (LNBs) and block upconverters (BUCs). A method of resisting EMP interference for a telecommunications system includes the steps of enclosing and shielding core components in a Faraday cage and providing output via LNBs and BUCs to an antenna subsystem. The antenna subsystem can include one or more antenna elements with configurations chosen from the group comprising: parabolic dish; array; unidirectional; and omnidirectional. The EMP-resistant telecom can optionally be combined with a signal regenerating subsystem and used with a signal regenerating method.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority inU.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 17/722,140, filed Apr. 15,2022, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,510,347, issued Nov. 22, 2022; which is acontinuation-in-part of and claims priority in U.S. non-provisionalapplication Ser. No. 17/544,662, filed Dec. 7, 2021, which is acontinuation-in-part of and claims priority in U.S. non-provisionalapplication Ser. No. 16/704,651, filed Dec. 5, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No.11,196,481, issued Dec. 7, 2021, which claims priority in U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/775,456, filed Dec. 5, 2018,claims priority in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/192,410,filed May 24, 2021, is related to U.S. Pat. No. 9,026,106, issued May 5,2015, and is related to U.S. Pat. No. 9,648,568, issued May 9, 2017; allof which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to signal transmitting andprocessing, and more particularly to shielding communications from theeffects of electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) with a system and methodutilizing a Faraday cage for very small aperture terminal (VSAT), C-bandsmall aperture terminal (CSAT) applications and phased array antennas.The present invention also relates to signal regeneration foreliminating the effects of signal degradation.

2. Description of the Related Art

Electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) can occur naturally with solar flares,lightning and other natural phenomena. They can be artificially inducedwith electrical devices producing radio frequency (RF) signals. EMPs canbe used for deliberately jamming RF signals, and thereby disruptingcommunications. For example, transmitting high-power RF signals ontarget carrier frequencies can interfere with data transmissions onthose frequencies. Such techniques can be used against adversaries forexploiting vulnerabilities in their communication infrastructures.Effectively shielding telecommunication systems from EMP threats cansignificantly reduce such vulnerabilities.

The EMP Commission, appointed by the U.S. government, reported toCongress that satellite communications networks could be vulnerable toEMP attack. Based on the pervasiveness of satellite communicationsthroughout commerce, defense, education, entertainment and otherapplications, such attacks could have devastating economic, nationalsecurity and public safety consequences. For example, credit and debitcard transactions are commonly process using satellite transmissions.Telephone communications also rely heavily on satellite transmissions.The worldwide network (Internet), terrestrial microwave transmission,and fiber optic cable networks could also be vulnerable to EMP attacksand other forms of interference.

Electronic signal systems are well known and transmit from transmittersto receivers over various media, including land lines, fiber opticcables and wirelessly over the airwaves. Communications systems commonlyuse satellites for relaying signal transmissions. In the United States,the bandwidths for such communications are controlled and allocated bythe Federal Communications Commission (FCC). For example, microwavefrequencies range from 109 Hz (1 GHz) to 1000 GHz.

Signals can be transmitted in either digital or analog formats.Digital-to-analog (D/A), analog-to-digital (A/D) or digital-digital(D/D) conversions are commonly accomplished with various electronicdevices using hardware, firmware and software components and routines.Applications of the invention include and are not limited to medicaldevices, microwave, television, audio, hearing aids, data transmissionor laser transmissions.

Signal degradation and interference in the form of “noise” cancompromise signal system performance and bandwidth modulationefficiency. Currently, degradation of satellite signals is primarilycaused by weather anomalies, such as precipitation. Other causes includeatmospheric dust, smog, smoke, solar storms and solar flares. Moreover,a growing debris field from destroyed satellites and space missionsorbits the earth and increasingly degrades satellite signals. Metallicparticles in the debris field are particularly problematic because theyreflect satellite signal transmissions. As the volume of debris in orbitincreases, e.g., from satellite collisions, a cascading interferenceeffect results, which is known as the “Kessler Effect.”

Heretofore there has not been available an EMP-resistant satellitetelecommunications system and method with a signal regeneratingsubsystem with the advantages and features of the present invention. Thesystem utilizes software, firmware and/or hardware, which can beembedded or loaded on binary (digital) or quantum computers. The methodof the present invention eliminates the effects of operating conditions,thereby regenerating signals. Signal-to-noise (S/N) and carrier noise(C/N) ratios can thus be improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an EMP-resistant telecommunications(telecom) system with a Faraday cage enclosing a core componentsubsystem. The telecom system can be combined with a regeneratingsystem, which can be implemented with software, firmware or hardware.Analog signals can be converted to a digital format and put on a carriersignal for transmission. Digital signals can be put directly on acarrier signal for transmission. The combined content and carriersignals can be transmitted through various media. At or near the end ofthe communications link the digital signals may or may not be accessibleat an intermediate frequency link (IFL). Accumulated noise is removed,whereby the signal is regenerated, thereby increasing the S/N and C/Nratios, providing more efficient bandwidth modulation, allowing moredata throughput or the use of lower bandwidth at the same data rate.

The method of the present invention eliminates the effects of operatingconditions, thereby regenerating signals. The present invention alsoprovides methods for combining EMP resistance and signal regenerationfunctions in telecom systems.

Various objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration andexample, certain embodiments of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic, block diagram of an EMP-resistant satellitetelecommunications system with an optional signal regenerating subsystemembodying an aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic, block diagram showing the EMP-resistanttelecommunications system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the EMP-resistantcommunications system with an optional signal regeneration procedure.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing in more detail aspects of the operation ofthe signal regenerating subsystem.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS I. Introduction andEnvironment

As required, detailed aspects of the present invention are disclosedherein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects aremerely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in variousforms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosedherein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis forthe claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in theart how to variously employ the present invention in virtually anyappropriately detailed structure.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description forconvenience in reference only and will not be limiting. Said terminologywill include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof andwords of similar meaning.

II. EMP-Resistant Telecommunications (Telecom) System 2

Referring to the drawings in more detail, FIG. 1 shows an EMP-resistanttelecommunications (telecom) system 2, including a Faraday cage 4enclosing and shielding a core component subsystem 6, which includes amicroprocessor 7 connected to a data storage component 8. An optionalsignal regenerating subsystem 5 can be connected to the telecom system2. The microprocessor 7 is configured for receiving signals from areceiver 9, which receives input in the form of regenerated telecomsignal input 11 from the signal regenerating subsystem 5. Output fromthe microprocessor 7 is received by a transmitter 13 for output to aregenerated telecom signal output 15 of the signal regeneratingsubsystem 5. The Faraday cage 4 is scalable and can comprise an entirebuilding, a room or an equipment enclosure. The core component subsystem6 includes a data source or storage component 8 configured for receivinginput from and providing output to other components.

As shown in FIG. 2 , an AC power source 52 is connected to the corecomponent subsystem 6 via a power backup relay 54, which is normallyclosed. A backup generator 56 is connected to the power backup relay 54.An auto-boot appliance 58 provides AC power to a post-EMP satelliterouter 14 and the ethernet switch 10. AC power is also provided to theprimary satellite router 12. The system 2 can include various otherequipment and components for telecom service.

The ethernet switch 10 provides output to and receives input from aprimary satellite router 12 and a post-EMP satellite router 14.Alternatively, the system 2 can accommodate receive-only satellitecommunication installations. The primary satellite router 12 isconnected to a primary low noise block (LNB) converter 16, which in turnis connected to a close-coupled waveguide splitter 18 providing anantenna receive feed 20. The primary satellite router 12 is alsoconnected to a primary block upconverter (BUC) 22, which in turn isconnected to a close-coupled waveguide combiner 24 providing an antennatransmit feed 26.

The output of the post-EMP satellite router 14 is input to a BUC 28,which is connected to the close-coupled waveguide combiner 24 providingthe antenna transmit feed 26. The post EMP satellite router 14 is alsoconnected to a post EMP LNB converter 30, which in turn is connected tothe close-coupled waveguide splitter 18 providing the antenna receivefeed 20.

A dual antennae subsystem 32 (e.g., receive and transmit, or phasedarray) can be connected to the LNBs 16, 30 and the BUCs 22, 28 at theantenna feeding the two port microwave splitters and combiners 18, 24.In the phased array configuration, all LNB and BUC functions arecontained within the phased array antenna. As such, the completecombination of elements will be installed and unpowered but connected tothe other components of the system as detailed. A Faraday cage can beplaced around other components of the system 2, e.g., equipmentconnected to the antennae(s) and the backup generator or alternator 56.

Alternatively, the antennae subsystem 32 can include antenna elementswith various configurations, such as uni-directional dish andomni-directional (broadcast) antennae. Moreover, the antennae subsystemand the antenna elements thereof can be mounted on bases witharticulated, variable-orientation mechanisms configured for optimizingtransmission and reception.

The Faraday cage 4 for antenna-mounted electronics is grounded to thesatellite antenna but preferably isolated from the antenna, e.g., withfiber gaskets or other insulating elements. Nylon or Teflon bolts andnuts can connect the isolated components to the antenna feeds orwaveguide while a copper ground strap can connect a mesh Faraday cage 4to the antennae. The mesh Faraday cage 4 can be contained within astandard fiberglass feed cover or within hub-mounted electronics. Ineither case, the result is a fully functional feed system of electronics(core component subsystem 6) within the grounded Faraday cage 4.

Inter-facility (IFL) cables between the antennae and the insideelectronics/core components can be interconnected with either: doubleshielded wiring with the outside shield grounded at both ends; or withfiber optic cable with the optic transceivers located within the feedFaraday cage 4. In the event of the use of double-shielded IFL cables,power to the feed is supplied through the coaxial cable. Fiber optic IFLcables can utilize localized shielded batteries or shielded, dedicatedgenerators.

Transmit and receive package equipment 60, including electronics andantenna mounted equipment, can be non-powered (OFF). At such time thatan EMP event renders commercial power inoperative or in the event of alocal power outage, the backup power energizes and the internal powerrelay switches power output to the backup redundant electronics. Whenthe commercial power is restored, power will resume to the primaryequipment package. This latter feature is primarily intended to restoresignals in the event of a non-EMP event or condition. Following an EMPevent, all components should be checked to determine which componentshave failed in order to be replaced for future EMPs.

By way of non-limiting example, the Hybrid Dual-Band SatelliteCommunication System disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,648,568, which isassigned to a common assignee herewith and is incorporated herein byreference, could be EMP-protected with technology disclosed in thepresent application, e.g., Faraday cages.

A signal processing system includes hardware, firmware and/or softwareconfigured for converting (e.g., analog-digital (A/D), digital-analog(D/A or digital-digital (D/D)) signals at transmission and/or reception.The converted signals are processed to eliminate the effects ofdegradation, interference and noise. A signal processing method includesthe steps of converting input signals, transmitting the convertedsignals and further processing to enable greater signal-to-noise ratiosand carrier-to-noise ratios for greater signal integrity and data rateswith less bandwidth.

III. Signal Regenerating System and Method

FIG. 3 shows the operation of the signal regenerating subsystem 5embodying an aspect of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows in moredetail the operation of the signal regenerating subsystem 5.

IV. Conclusion

It is to be understood that while certain embodiments and/or aspects ofthe invention have been shown and described, the invention is notlimited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:
 1. An electromagnetic pulse (EMP)resistant telecommunications (telecom) system, which comprises: a corecomponent subsystem including a data source with a data storagecomponent; a primary data router; a post-EMP data router; an ethernetswitch configured for directing telecommunications signals from saiddata source to one of said primary and post-EMP data routers; a Faradaycage enclosing said core component subsystem and configured forresisting EMP interference; a telecommunications signal subsystemconnected to said data routers; said telecommunications signal subsystemincluding a signal antenna receive feed and a signal transmit feed; saiddata routers connected to said antenna feeds; and a signal regeneratingsubsystem configured for eliminating path interference effects ontransmitted and received signals.
 2. The telecom system according toclaim 1, which includes said core component subsystem having aconfiguration comprising one of: a single-chip integrated circuit; amulti-chip integrated circuit; discrete components; firmware; andsoftware.
 3. The telecom system according to claim 1, which isconfigured for backhauling cellular telecommunications signals betweenthe Internet and subnetworks.
 4. The telecom system according to claim 3wherein said backhaul signals include video content.
 5. Thetelecommunications system according to claim 1, which includes: anantenna variable-orientation mechanism configured for optimizing signaltransmission and reception by directionally orienting one or more ofsaid antenna elements.
 6. The telecommunications system according toclaim 1, which includes: a backup generator selectively connected tosaid core component subsystem.
 7. The telecommunications systemaccording to claim 1, which includes: a primary low noise block (LNB)connected to said primary satellite router and said antenna subsystem; apost-EMP LNB connected to said primary satellite router and said antennasubsystem; and a close coupled waveguide splitter connected to said LNBsand said antenna receive feed.
 8. The telecommunications systemaccording to claim 1, which includes: a primary block upconverter (BUC)connected to said primary satellite router and said antenna subsystem;and a post-EMP BUC connected to said post-EMP satellite router and saidantenna subsystem.
 9. The telecommunications system according to claim1, which includes: said core component subsystem including a powerbackup relay selectively connected to said satellite routers.
 10. Thetelecommunications system according to claim 5, which includes: saidbackup generator connected to said power backup relay and configured forproviding AC power to said telecommunications system in the event of apower outage.
 11. An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) resistant satellitetelecommunications system, which comprises: a core component subsystemincluding a data source with a data storage component; a primarysatellite router; a post-EMP satellite router; an ethernet switchconfigured for directing signals from said data source to one of saidprimary and post-EMP satellite routers; a Faraday cage enclosing saidcore component subsystem and configured for resisting EMP interference;a backup generator selectively connected to said core componentsubsystem; an antenna subsystem connected to said satellite routers;said antenna subsystem including one or more antenna elements withconfigurations chosen from the group comprising: parabolic dish; array;unidirectional; and omnidirectional; said antenna subsystem including anantenna receive feed and an antenna transmit feed; said satelliterouters connected to said antenna feeds; a primary low noise block (LNB)connected to said primary satellite router and said antenna subsystem; apost-EMP LNB connected to said primary satellite router and said antennasubsystem; a primary block upconverter (BUC) connected to said primarysatellite router and said antenna subsystem; a post-EMP BUC connected tosaid post-EMP satellite router and said antenna subsystem; and a signalregenerating subsystem configured for eliminating path interferenceeffects on transmitted and received signals.
 12. The telecommunicationssystem according to claim 11, which includes: a close coupled waveguidecombiner connected to said BUCs and said antenna transmit feed.
 13. Thetelecommunications system according to claim 12, which includes: saidcore component subsystem including a power backup relay selectivelyconnected to said satellite routers.
 14. The telecommunications systemaccording to claim 13, which includes: a backup generator connected tosaid power backup relay and configured for providing AC power to saidtelecommunications system in the event of a power outage.
 15. Thetelecom system according to claim 11, which is configured forbackhauling cellular telecommunications signals between the Internet andsubnetworks.
 16. The telecom system according to claim 15 wherein saidbackhaul signals include video content.
 17. A signal transmission methodconsisting of the steps of: providing a core component subsystemincluding a data source with a data storage component; providing aprimary router; a post-EMP router; directing signals from said datasource to one of said primary and post-EMP satellite routers; enclosingsaid core component subsystem with a shield configured for resisting EMPinterference; selectively connecting a backup generator to said corecomponent subsystem; connecting an antenna subsystem to said routers;said antenna subsystem including one or more antenna elements withconfigurations chosen from the group comprising: parabolic dish; array;unidirectional; and omnidirectional; said antenna subsystem including anantenna receive feed and an antenna transmit feed; connecting saidsatellite routers to said antenna feeds; connecting a primary low noiseblock (LNB) to said primary router and said antenna subsystem;connecting a post-EMP LNB to said primary router and said antennasubsystem; connecting a primary block upconverter (BUC) to said primaryrouter and said antenna subsystem; connecting a post-EMP BUC to saidpost-EMP satellite router and said antenna subsystem; and regenerating asignal by eliminating path interference effects on transmitted andreceived signals.
 18. The method according to claim 17, which includesthe additional steps of backhauling cellular telecommunications signalsbetween the Internet and subnetworks.
 19. The method of claim 18 whereinsaid backhaul telecommunications signals include video content.
 20. Themethod of claim 17 wherein said signals comprise satellite signals.